Loyalty to our leaders ”“ whether or not we agree with them ”“ is also essential if we are to build unity. ”˜I feel so blessed to have Justin Welby as the Archbishop of Canterbury. Whatever he decides to do we will back him.’
Rev Nicky Gumbel, vicar of HTB, launched the two-day Leadership Conference by sharing his heartfelt passion for a united global Church.
”˜There is a crisis in the world; there is a crisis in the Church; there is a crisis of faith,’ he said. ”˜Unity is the only hope for the world.’
”˜The same Spirit lives in the Catholic, the Pentecostals, the Anglicans ”“ that’s what makes us one.’
Unity around Jesus, he said, is the key to the evangelisation of a nation. ”˜A divided world demands a united Church.’
Achieving a united Church boils down to our own individual choices in how we lead and how we follow. ”˜Ultimately, unity is not doctrinal, it’s relational,’ he said.
Update: There is a report from Day 2 here
Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Unity around Jesus=Unity around truth. So, I don’t understand his unity-is-not-doctrinal line of thinking.
Since this article is a synopsis, perhaps I have an incomplete understanding of his thesis.
Brilliant comment below from a Roman Catholic (I think):
[blockquote] “‘Ultimately, unity is not doctrinal, it’s relational,’ he said.
I think I get Nickey Gumbels point, but in that case why not all be Catholics? Especially as he says “The same Spirit lives in the Catholic, the Pentecostals, the Anglicans – that’s what makes us one.”. …
The only reason I can think not to is because you disagree with the doctrines of the Catholic church. But if you don’t want that to be a barrier for unity, go for it.” [/blockquote]
That’s a pretty sensible comment. I know that for me unity IS doctrinal, so I know where I stand. 90% or more of what I believe is the same as what orthodox Roman Catholics believe, hence I stand with them more than 90% of the time. And similar for the Baptists, Pentecostals etc. I know why I disagree with them, and why I agree with them (much more the latter than the former) and we can both fellowship and witness together.
Doctrinal unity does not even exist at the parish level at least in the Anglican world. If you doubt this, go to an Adult Forum Sunday school class.